Welcome to CEGESOMA/State Archives of

CEGESOMA, Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Society, is the Belgian centre of excellence for the history of 20th century conflicts. It carries out research, organises public events and holds document collections. It is since 1 January 2016 the fourth Operational Directory of the State Archives. It is a platform for academic and public activities in Belgium and abroad, in particular with regard to the two World Wars.

Important notice

* CLOSING DAYS – Friday 1 November 2019 (All Saints Day) – Monday 11 November 2019 ( Armistice) – Friday 15 November 2019 (King's Day).

Colloquium about the 75th anniversary of the Liberation and the 50th anniversary of CegeSoma

The heritage of the Second World War in Belgium. Future prospects for history? 10 December 2019 – Senate

Focus on the Resistance

On 1 October 2019, the TV series 'Kinderen van het Verzet' (Children of the Resistance, broadcast as from 22 October 209) by Canvas was launched at CegeSoma. The series addresses the growing interest of society and historical research in the history and remembrance of the resistance in Belgium. CegeSoma plays a key role in this trend and we give an overview of our main 'resistance initiatives'.

International colloquium about Linked Data (ADOCHS project)

On Friday 22 November, the ADOCHS project (Auditing Digitalization Outputs in the Cultural Heritage Sector) organises an international colloquium about Linked Data at KBR (the Royal Library of Belgium).

Fresh publications from CegeSoma associated researchers

Three associated researchers of CegeSoma just published new works and a fourth researcher brought out the French translation of a book published in 2018.

Donation of the Witte Brigade (Fidelio) archives

The Witte Brigade (Fidelio) is of significant historical relevance, as it was the only armed resistance organisation headquartered in Flanders. In 2017, we already reported on the donation of some twelve linear metres of archives from the more recently established non-profit organisation Witte Brigade (Fidelio) to CegeSoma.

Towards a permament structure for EHRI

On 23 August, it was announced that funding of the European Union for the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI), in which the State Archives/CegeSoma are a partner, will continue. Objective of this funding is to sustain and expand its resources and activities and to enable it to become a permanent European home for international Holocaust research and collaboration.  Conference ‘TRANSMEMO’ (memories of collaboration and resistance)

On Thursday 3 October 2019 we will co-organize a conference of the research project TRANSMEMO in the senate of Belgium. In this project historians and psychologists investigate how Belgian families with a history of collaboration or resistance remember and experience the legacy of the Second World War. During a full-day program TRANSMEMO will present the results of the research while political scientists, psychologists and historians will reflect on the legacy of this past.

Bevrijd Libérée (Liberated Brussels)

Brussels, 3 September 1944. Since the early hours of the morning, Radio London broadcasts the Belgian national anthem, the Brabançonne. Just one day before, the first units of the Allied Armed Forces have entered the country. In the capital city, people stayed indoors, following the instructions not to interfere with troop movements. Then, shortly before 8 pm, the first Allied tank enters Brussels. When poeple recognize it, they burst with joy.

Sixth Public History Encounter of the CegeSoma

Monday 30 September 2019 (12.30 pm – 2.00 pm) at CegeSoma  'When photography becomes a historical source in its own right' Conference-debate (in French) on the occasion of the two new publications 'Bruxelles, ville libérée (1944-1945)' and 'La Wallonie libérée (1944- 1945)' Guest speakers: Mélanie Bost, Alain Colignon, Chantal Kesteloot, Bénédicte Rochet (authors) Host: Anne Roekens

“Children of the Resistance―: launch of the programme by Canvas at CegeSoma

Following the high-profile TV-series “Kinderen van de collaboratie― (2017) and “Kinderen van de kolonie― (2018), the series “Kinderen van het verzet― will be broadcast on Canvas (VRT) from October 2019. This new series will be officially presented to the press and the public in the conference room of CegeSoma on the 1st of October 2019.

New articles on the Blog of Belgium WWII

What's new on the Belgium WWII-blog? A couple of months ago we announced the launch of the Belgium WWII-blog. Since then, new articles have been published online. They deal with current debates on the perception of the Second World War, the challenges with regard to remembrance of the war as well as new forms of interactions with the target audience of historical projects.

Colloquia of local history associations 'From Liberation to Victory'

On 3 June and on 17 June, CegeSoma organised two colloquia, at the State Archives in Namur and at the State Archives in Ghent respectively, for anyone interested in local history about the period from the Liberation of the country in September 1944 to the final victory over in spring 1945. The following report presents an overview of the papers presented that can provide tools and guidance for further research about the subject, thereby also spreading the findings of the colloquium among those interested in local history.

New issue of the JBH out now

The first issue of the JBH for the year 2019 has been published. It contains four articles, a section about doctoral theses and a number of reviews. Earlier in 2019, the price of JBH issues was significantly lowered, so this first issue is available at a very reasonable price.

A workshop on looted library materials in Belgium during the Second World War

On 14 June 2019, Dr Patricia Kennedy Grimsted (Harvard University) was invited as the main speaker to a workshop organised by CegeSoma and AMSAB - ISG about the Nazi's plunder of cultural heritage in Belgium during the Second World War. She is an internationally renowned expert who has been carrying out research on this issue for decades and still works on the subject.

Conference in Leuven about archives and historical research

From 6 to 7 June, the yearly international archival symposium will take place in the Belgian State Archives in Leuven. The theme of this year's conference is archives and scholarly research (Archive und wissenschaftliche Forschung).

Workshop Plunder of Art and Heritage in Belgium during the Second World War - 14 June 2019

Recently Patricia Grimsted, the well-known American researcher on the history of the German looting of art and heritage in Europe during World War II, has addressed a number of Belgian researchers with a request to follow up on earlier research and publication projects.

International Conference ‘Holocaust Studies and Its Social Setting’

To conclude the second phase of the project “European Holocaust Research Infrastructure―, with the State Archives/CegeSoma being one of its partner institutions, an international conference is going to be held in on July 3, 2019.

War - occupation - liberation: a new book on Belgium during the Second World War

On May 8, a new permanent exhibition on the Second World War was opened at the Army Museum / War Heritage Institute. This exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue that looks at the Second World War from different angles. To the latter, CegeSoma researchers have made a significant contribution.

Find out how to use the Ugescrowd platform

The Ugescrowd platform (a new digital tool for improving the description of CegeSoma's photograph collections) is set up to be as intuitive as possible. However, initial feedback from users has shown that the platform still needs some modifications and first-time users can benefit from some guidance.

Study day aimed at the French-speaking local historical associations

'De la Libération à la Victoire : l'histoire locale revisitée' Lundi 3 juin 2019 – Archives de l'Etat à Namur Le Centre d'Études et de Documentation Guerre et Sociétés contemporaines (CegeSoma), 4e Direction opérationnelle des Archives de l'État en Belgique, organise le 3 juin prochain une journée d'étude spécialement destinée aux cercles d'histoire locale.

Fifth 'double' Public History Encounter of the CegeSoma

1.  At the Royal Museum of the Armed forces/War Heritage Institute on 20 May 2019 (10.00 am – 11.45 am) 'Private tour of the new permanent exhibition 'War - Occupation – Liberation' 2.  At CegeSoma on 19 June 2019 (12.30 pm – 2.00 pm)         'Current challenges for a war museum.' Conference-debate with guest speakers: Wannes Devos and Kevin Gony.Moderated by Chantal Kesteloot Fourth Public History Encounter of the CegeSoma

At CINEMATEK on Thursday 16 May 2019 (5.30 pm – 7.00 pm)

'L'histoire d'espoir de la résistante armée Sarah Goldberg'

Screening of the movie (in French) about the story of hope of Resistance fighter Sarah Goldberg, attended by director Patricia Niedzwiecki.

CegeSoma publishes its annual report 2018

Positioned between two major commemorative events of two World Wars, the year 2018 was an essential year for CegeSoma. Â We created the foundation for a reorientation of our strategic research policy and for a thorough overhaul of our collection and repository management policy. Â Â

A price reduction and an anniversary issue of the JBH in 2019

Thanks to the financial support of the Universitaire Stichting – Fondation Universitaire and the FNRS we can announce some good news : the cost of the Journal of Belgian History will be reduced. As of 2019, you will pay as an individual reader only 40 euro (without shipping costs) for a subscription of four issues; institutions will pay 60 euro (without shipping costs). One issue will cost only 15 euro (a single issue) or 25 euro (a double sized issue). Bookshops can enjoy a 20% discount. This reduction will not have any impact on the quality of the content, quite on the contrary.

Editathon of CegeSoma about Brussels at War

On 25 April, the CegeSoma held its first Editathon about Brussels in times of war, also aimed at presenting UGESCROWDÂ the new crowdsourcing platform developed within the framework of the UGESCO project.

Call for papers : Cultures of Spectacles in German-occupied Belgium. Parallels and Differences between the First and the Second World War.

In March 2020, the institute for Media Studies (KU Leuven) and CegeSoma will organize a workshop about the multiple types of spectacles (cinema, theatre, music-hall, circus, fairs, dance, cabaret, etc.) that took place in occupied Belgium during the First and the Second World War.

Third Public History Encounter at the CegeSoma

 on 23 April 2019 (12.30 pm – 2.00 pm) The use of Violence in Times of War A conference-debate (in Dutch) with guest speakers Frank Seberechts and Bruno De Wever moderated by Bart Willems

Double invitation CegeSoma by CIVA

Within the framework of the UGESCO project (Upscaling the Geo-temporal Enrichment, exploration and exploitation of Scientific Collection), the CegeSoma/State Archives organise a conference afternoon on 25 April (from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm) about crowdsourcing, followed by a practical application of the concept during the editathon evening (editing marathon/contributive event) from 5.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

 Issue 4 of the JBH (2018) now available

The fourth issue of the Journal of Belgian History contains four articles and a contribution to the debate section.

JBH : New content digitally accessible

The articles and sections (debate, book reviews, PhD's) of 2017 are now fully accessible online on : www.journalbelgianhistory.be.

FWO – ‘Research Grant’ for research about the civic purge

The Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) has given Dirk Luyten (CegeSoma) a research grant for research into the civic purge after the Second World War in the judicial district of Brussels. The civic purge, better known as the 'list of the military prosecutor', was a key element of punishment of collaboration after the Second World War in Belgium. It was aimed at less grave and mainly political collaboration. Due to this measure, over 20,000 people lost their political and civil rights.

Which sense should we give to commemorations?

In 2019, we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the la liberation of Belgium as well as the 50th anniversary of CegeSoma. This is the perfect occasion for our institution to reflect on the relationship between 'history' and 'commemoration' or public memories.  Â

2019 : A festive year at the CegeSoma!

Fifty years ago, in 1969 , an enthusiastic team of six young researchers came together to initiate pioneering work on the history of the Second World War … The Centre for Research and historical Studies on the Second World War (CREHSGM), the predecessor to the CegeSoma, was born! Also in 1969, the first edition of the Journal of Belgian History appeared, which is published by CegeSoma/the State Archives since 2011. Seventy years ago, in the evening of September 3, 1944, Brussels was liberated by British troops accompanied by Belgians of the Brigade Piron.

Second Public History Encounter

At CegeSoma, 20 March 2019 (12:30 – 14:00)

The impact of the first World War in a colonial context

Conference (in French) with Anne Cornet and Enika Ngongo

EHRI-fellowship on European Waffen-SS veterans

An interview with Steffen Werther (Institute of Contemporary History - Södertörn University / ), EHRI-fellow in CegeSoma from 4 – 15 February 2019.

"Wallonia liberated", "Brussels, liberated city": photos wanted !

In view of the 75 anniversary of the Liberation and the end of the Second World War, two works will be published in the series "Villes en guerre" of Renaissance du Livre. As for previous editions, these works rely heavily on photographs.

Which representation of the events is given through this medium? What do we learn from it? How to use it? Is it possible to write the history of cities at war by relying heavily on photographs?

PUBLIC HISTORY MEETINGS @ CEGESOMA A new offer of CegeSoma/State Archives. The history of the 20th century and current events adressed through conferences, debates, interviews, film screenings, etc. Events organised at or by CegeSoma. Our goal: exchanging ideas with the public!

Conference about oral history in Liège

On 27 February 2019, the Institut d'Histoire Ouvrièvre, Économique et Sociale (IHOES) organises a conference about oral history at Cité Miroir in Liège.

The main topic will be the relationship between methodology and sources on the one hand and historiography on the other.

Inventorying days at CegeSoma!

From 8 to 18 January all CegeSoma staff will be busy carrying out a general and thorough inventorying of our collections held at the Square de l'Aviation/Luchtvaartsquare site.

New publication of associated researcher Frank Seberechts

After several recent book publications authored by some of our associated researchers - 'Grenzeloos verzet' from Paul de Jongh, 'De gebroken arm der wet' from Marc Verschooris and 'La valise oubliée' van Gerlinda Swillen – Frank Seberechts now also publishes his new book : 'Drang naar het Oosten'.

EHRI Conference in July in Amsterdam: Call for proposals

Call for Proposals: EHRI Conference: Holocaust Studies in the Digital Age. What's New? Â Date: Tuesday, 2 July 2019 Location: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The

The deadline to submit proposals is 2 February 2019. Notification will be sent via email in March 2019. Â

‘La valise oubliée. Enfants de guerre (1940-1945)’. Interview of the author of the book, Gerlinda Swillen by Alain Colignon.

Touchy, sometimes difficult and often unknown, such is the history of children born from romances between Belgian women and Wehrmacht soldiers.

The CegeSoma (State Archives) and the Auschwitz Foundation – Remembrance of Auschwitz are pleased to invite you to the presentation of the latest book by Dr Gerlinda Swillen titled 'La valise oubliée. Enfants de guerre (1940-1945)' * on the occasion of which the author will be interviewed by Alain Colignon.

Inventory of the collections in the CegeSoma depot

From Monday 7 January to Friday 18 January 2019, the CegeSoma will carry out a stock taking of its collections conserved at Square de l'Aviation/Luchtvaartsquare.

The State Archives in Arlon win ‘archives’ competition about First World War On the occasion of the centenary of the First World War Armistice, several State Archives repositories (among which CegeSoma) have selected one document from that period of time that best symbolizes the transition from war to . The public then was able to choose from these documents the one they liked most via an online form on the State Archives website and on the CegeSoma website.

Belgium WWII, a reference website but also a blog!

Since a couple of weeks now, the website “Belgium WWII― is complemented by a blog. Indeed, it seemed crucial to us to be able to take part in the debates and controversies surrounding the Second World War by adding this option to the encyclopedic function of the website, and to present new projects or archival holdings that may incite new research or shed new light on older issues.

East West Street? A book, a play, and considerations …

An event of the International Chair for the History of World War II – 2019 edition. The CegeSoma is particularly pleased to be associated to the International Chair for the History of World War II (Baron Velge Prize) for an exceptional performance in Belgium of East West Street: A Song of Good and Evil, an acclaimed piece inspired by Philippe Sands' book East West Street (Penguine/Randomhouse 2016).

In memoriam Jacques Wynants

Jacques Wynants – our “big Jacques― as senior colleagues at CegeSoma recall him – has passed away in the manner in which he desired: quietly, discretely… He left us on Sunday 18 November 2018, in the wake of the First World War commemorations, which in recent years had taken a lot of his attention as a passionate researcher.

EHRI call for special Conny Kristel Fellowship

EHRI invites applications for its first Conny Kristel Fellowship. EHRI is offering a fellowship of three weeks at NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam to honour the memory and legacy of Dr. Conny Kristel, former EHRI project director and senior researcher at the NIOD, who sadly passed away on 6 October 2018. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2018 and the fellowship will have to be completed by 31 August 2019.

Journal of Belgian History: Special edition ‘Congo at war’ (2018 1-2) out now!

This special edition with guest editors Enika Ngongo, Bérengère Piret and Nathalie Toussignant is dedicated to Congo during the First World War.  It contains six innovative articles that look beyond strictly military aspects and delve into a number of issues related to international law.Â

Third issue of the JBH 2018 published

Just a few weeks after the publication of the first double-sized issue of 2018 (the thematic issue 'Congo at War'), the third issue of the JBH has already arrived. The issue has four articles: one in French, two in Dutch and one in English.

Half-time for the ADOCHS project!

On 1 November 2016, the CegeSoma launched the ADOCHS project in collaboration with the Royal Library (KBR), and the Universities of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)). The project aims to improve quality control processes for digital cultural heritage collections. After having worked for two years at CegeSoma, Anne Chardonnens now prepares to join the ULB-team. We interviewed her to reflect on the results she has accomplished so far. Â

Our photos described by artificial intelligence… and checked by our readers!

In April 2017 the research project UGESCO (Upscaling the Geo-temporal Enrichment, exploration and exploitation of Scientific Collections) was launched in order to experiment with new methods to valorise our photo collections. On 12 December 2018, the project partners will proudly present the new tools they have developed and which combine computing power with the expertise of our researchers and users.

Invitation : Publications on the Great War at the End of the Commemoration Activities. Evaluation and Prospects.

After four years of commemoration activities related to the hundredth anniversary of the First World War in Belgium, it is time for an evaluation. Books and journals have already given overviews and opened research perspectives which thus far had remained unexplored. CegeSoma wants to introduce some of these publications and their authors to you on 19 November 2018 from 9.15 a.m. till 1.15 p.m. Registration for the presentations, the debate and the reception is possible until 14 November 2018 via this link. More information: [email protected] Â

1918-2018. Four Years of War. Hundred Years of Impact

November 1918. Finally, the guns fell silent. Yet, it was not possible to close the chapter. The world as we knew it had disappeared for good. A new fragile world was beginning, still to be invented. It was the beginning of ―the short 20th century― as Eric Hobsbawm so eloquently put it, a phrase now appropriated by many historians.

To illustrate this complex period, the Vif/L'Express has published a special issue, aimed at a wide audience, which has been coordinated by Chantal Kesteloot and Laurence van Ypersele.

Warfare and Welfare: on the Connection between Wars and the Development of the Welfare State.

Wars are moments of acceleration in the development of social policy. After the Second World War in Belgium, the welfare state is directly associated with the Social Pact of April 1944. In a new book, the connection between wars and the development of the welfare state ('the warfare-welfare nexus') for a number of countries in and outside Europe is the central theme.

New call to families in the context of the Transmemo project

The Transmemo project is a federal and interdisciplinary research project on family memory of the resistance and the collaboration in Belgium during the Second World War. CegeSoma participates in this project in partnership with a team of historians of Ghent University and a team of social and cognitive psychologists of the UCL (Université catholique de Louvain). The project was launched in October 2017 and dozens of Dutch- and French-speaking families have already been interviewed.

‘Hendrik de Man: headstrong, fiendish and dreaming’ : Author Jan Willem Stutje talks to Rudi Van Doorslaer about his new biography.

The 'Friends of CegeSoma (State Archives)' and the Masereelfonds (co-organisator) have the pleasure of inviting you to the afternoon conference where Jan Willem Stutje will talk to Rudi Van Doorslaer about his recently published biography on Hendrik de Man.

Brussels, November 1918. From War to Peace?

On 26 September, the exhibition 'Brussels, November 1918' will open in the BELvue Museum, an initiative of CegeSoma/State Archives. The exhibition wants to evoke the last months of the war and the first months of peace in the city of Brussels. In the past years, the occupation years were the core of the multiple commemorative events. Now it is time to focus on the transition from war to peace.

Belgium WWII, the story continues…

Almost one year ago, on 27 September 2017, we launched the website “Belgium WWII―. The aim was to make the works and research of the most renowned experts accessible to the general public in a clear and concise manner. The purpose was not to propose an official version of history, but to provide information with a quality label substantiated by the academic credit of the Study Centre War and Society and the thorough evaluation of the texts.

‘Grenzeloos verzet’ (Boundless Resistance), a unique case study on the cross-border resistance during the Second World War

On 16 October 2018, Paul De Jongh, who is an associated researcher of CegeSoma, will present his book 'Grenzeloos verzet. Over spionerende monniken, ontsnappingslijnen en het Hannibalspiel, 1940-1943', Turnhout, Brepols, 2018, 344 p.

March 1943. The German secret police surrounded the abbey of Val-Dieu and two of its monks were arrested for participating in resistance activities: H. Jacobs of Antwerp and E. Muhren of Bergen op Zoom.

A short time later, 80 arrests were made in Belgium and in the Netherlands.

Results of the conference War and Fatherland are published

On 14-15 October 2015, CegeSoma with all Belgian universities organizes the international conference 'War and Fatherland'. Almost three years later, the results are published in the edited volume 'Nations, Identities and the First World War'. The book is edited by Nico Wouters (CegeSoma) and Laurence van Ypersele (Université Catholique de Louvain), has fifteen chapters and was published by Bloomsbury.

Decease of Jacques Lory, former member of the Scientific Committee of CegeSoma

Historian Jacques Lory, professor emeritus at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL) and the University of Saint-Louis, passed away on 13 August. He became a member of the Scientific Committee of our Centre in 1972, to which he participated assiduously until its cessation in 1999. With him an important part of the memory of our institution disappears, as well as a discreet but important contributor to the historiography of the Second World War in Belgium. Â

Zoé Grumberg’s EHRI fellowship at CEGESOMA

Zoé Grumberg is a third-year PhD Candidate at the Center of History of Sciences Po , where she prepares, under the supervision of prof Claire Andrieu, a Phd "S'engager et militer, reconstruire la vie juive, lutter contre l'oubli. Les Juifs communistes yiddishophones après la Shoah, Paris, 1944-années 1950" 'Engagement and militancy : reconstruction of Jewish life, struggle against forgetting : the Yiddish-speaking Communist Jews in Paris after the Shoah, Paris 1944- 1950's'.  Â

Du café liégeois au Soldat inconnu. La Belgique et la Grande Guerre.

Looking at a past that has forever marked our history

The authors of this book have wanted to describe a certain number of events of the First World War, but also the traces that the conflict left on Belgian society. The aim was not to be exhaustive, or several volumes would not have sufficed. Â

‘To End All Wars?’ International Conference at the End of the Memorial Year 2018

The In Flanders Fields Museum and Cegesoma organize the four-day international conference To End All Wars? – Geopolitical Aftermath and Commemorative Legacies of the First World War. This international (English-language) conference will take place in Ypres, 22 - 25 August 2018.

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The Readers Card becomes Free of Charge

From 1 June 2018, access to the 19 reading rooms of the Belgian State Archives (including the CegeSoma reading room) becomes free of charge. This new measure aims to make the Belgian archives accessible to all citizens. Prices for research-services and costs for 'reproductions on demand' however increase substantially. Â

Yearly meeting of the ASF Volunteers at CegeSoma

On 19 June, the yearly meeting of the ASF volunteers and their project partners took place in the conference room of CegeSoma.

 For 60 years, the ASF (Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste), an association founded by opponents of Nazism, sends each year some 170 young German volunteers to countries where the population has suffered from the crimes committed by the Nazis during the Second World War. The first ASF volunteers arrived in Belgium in 1963.

CegeSoma presents its multiannual plan and its annual report for 2017

For the first time in its history, CegeSoma presents a multiannual plan (2017-2021). It is the result of various meetings with stakeholders, of which our specialized scientific committee, renewed in 2017, is the most important one.

The Journal of Belgian History publishes a thematic issue on the history of psychiatry in Belgium

The new issue (number four, 2017) of the Journal of Belgian History is a thematic issue on the history of psychiatry in Belgium, edited by Benoît Majerus (Université de Luxembourg) and Anne Roekens (Université de Namur). 2019-2020: CegeSoma and War Heritage Institute join forces

In 2019-2020, it is exactly seventy five years since the liberation of Belgium and Europe from Nazism. In the context of this anniversary, CegeSoma and the War Heritage Institute concluded an agreement to promote further collaboration between the institutes.

Acquisition – Archives of the Fraternelle du service Hotton An valuable fonds for the history of the armed resistance in Wallonia at the eve of the Liberation

The service Hotton was a resistance organisation created in 1943 on the initiative of the Belgian and British authorities. Its mission: to harass the occupying forces militarily by attacking their communication channels and telecommunications. Operational from early 1944 onwards, the group made its mark on the forested area of Chimay-Couvin owing to the dynamism of its group D. Its archives, bequeathed in April 2018, document this remarkable activity.

Report on the Young Historians’ Day at Cegesoma

On April 19th, 2018 CegeSoma organised the 12th edition of its workshop aimed at young historians, both those looking for a subject for their future Masters' thesis and recently graduated talents. This time the punishment of collaboration after the First and Second World War and, more generally, research possibilities linked to the archives of the military justice system constituted the central themes of the day.

New contact addresses !

To improve the quality of our service, CegeSoma has two new contact addresses: [email protected] : for correspondence and the providing of information [email protected] : for the request of reproduction of documents Â

A new digital corner!

As announced in the Newsletter of November, Cegesoma continues to improve the digital access to its collections. From now on, the reading room has a digital corner completely dedicated to the digital access to the collections. Come and see our new service!

A resistance fighter in the garden cities of Watermael-Boitsfort, 1940-1945

The famous documentary maker André Dartevelle bestows us with a poignant posthumous publication. He put into practice all his talent as a historian and journalist in order to deliver the detailed and heartfelt story of the Resistance in the bucolic Brussels municipality of Watermael-Boitsfort at the edge of city and countryside.

In honour of Social Welfare

On Saturday 17 March, the magnificent historic Social Welfare building was open to the public on the occasion of the biannual Art Nouveau/Art Deco open days, allowing anyone interested to visit these places usually closed to the public or subject to restricted access.

Update Call for Papers - Languages and the First World War II 2018 Conference Europe House London, 10 September - KU Leuven, Brussels Campus, 12 September  Background Following a successful first international conference on Languages and the First World War (University of Antwerp and the British Library, June 2014), two successful books of essays (Palgrave-MacMillan), and the following that has been built up (@LanguagesFWW and the blog, https://languagesandthefirstworldwar.wordpress.com/, run by Julian Walker), the organisers are pleased to announce the second Languages and the First World War conference for 10 and 12 September 2018.

JOURNAL OF BELGIAN HISTORY –The Double Sized Issue of the JBH of 2017 has been published

With considerable delay, the double-sized issue (2-3) of 2017 has been published.

The ‘Bijdragen’/’Cahiers’ (1970-1995) added to the digital archive of the JBH

The seventeen volumes of the journal 'Bijdragen tot de Geschiedenis van de Tweede Wereldoorlog'/'Cahiers d'histoire de la seconde guerre mondiale' (1970-1995) have been added to the website of the Journal of Belgian History (JBH) (http://www.journalbelgianhistory.be/en). All articles are free and digitally accessible. This means that, for the first time, the digital archive of three related journals have been integrated: the old 'Bijdragen tot de Geschiedenis van de Tweede Wereldoorlog'/'Cahiers d'histoire de la seconde guerre mondiale', the Journal of Belgian History (from 1969) and the 'Bijdragen tot de Eigentijdse Geschiedenis'/'Cahiers d'Histoire du Temps présent' (BEG/CHTP, 1996-2011).

The broadcasting programmes of Radio Bruxelles and Zender Brussel digitally accessible in the reading room!

Wartime radio was a particularly efficient means of communication. News of the front, official or clandestine speeches, encrypted messages and propaganda broadcasts were communicated to the Belgian citizens on a daily basis. Many families hold memories of evenings gathered around the radio. The radio was a real tool of information and persuasion, used by the allies as well as the occupier. CegeSoma proposes to discover or rediscover the German radio production in Brussels during the Second World War!

In Enemy Territory. Experiences of Occupation; transfers, legacies (1914-1949)

Periods of commemoration often offer opportunities in the editorial field. But it must be said that these publications are not necessarily novel historiographical contributions. Where occupation is concerned, it must be concluded that it has been the subject of many studies. So, is there really nothing new to be discovered?

The commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The commemorations are ever-present in our society today. The centenary of the Great War, the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, and of course the recent terrorist attacks were all themes for commemoration ceremonies. Commemorations are social perceptions that should be studied not only for their historical relevance, but for the way societies have behaved with respect to them. In other words, how and to which end does the present claim the past?

The State Archives meet the Universities on the Theme of Digitisation!

Since 2015, the State Archives have begun a process of reflection on the digital access to their collections, among other things via the Brain project MADDLAIN carried out in collaboration with the Royal Library. Among the audiences that were studied, the university researchers are one of the priorities of our institution. It therefore seemed useful to reunite the heads of department of the State Archives with representatives of the different history departments of the Belgian universities to exchange ideas on their respective needs. Feedback on a study day with many debates organized on 5 February. Â

The State, History and Memory: New Publication

Nico Wouters (head CegeSoma) is, together with Berber Bevernage, co-editor of the new publication 'The Handbook of State-Sponsored History after 1945'. With 45 chapters and no less than 50 authors, this is the first book to systematically consider the role of states in the construction of history and memory.

Inventory of the Archives of the The Royal National Federation of Veterans of the Piron Brigade

The memory of a legendary Belgian military unit finally accessible When the activities of certain military units ceased after the German capitulation of May 1945, their members often felt the need to continue to reunite and keep the memories of their sacrifices alive. The acquisition and inventorization of archives of associations such as The Royal National Federation of Veterans of the Piron Brigade, are therefore particularly important to CegeSoma.

CegeSoma Embraces the Wikipedia Adventure

On 18 December, CegeSoma organized its first 'Wikipedia marathon'. As everyone knows, Wikipedia is a multilingual online encyclopedia that is available to anyone who wishes to use it and correct it. The project is part of a bigger project: Wikimedia. Apart from the encyclopedia, there is also Wikisource for original documents, Wikidata for databases, Wikimedia Commons for photographs, Wikinews, Wiktionnaire etc.

CegeSoma is looking for families who want to participate in a new research project on family memories of resistance and collaboration

In the context of the latest project on family memories of resistance and collaboration in Belgium, which CegeSoma has started in cooperation with Ghent University and the UCL, we are looking for families who are willing to share their family history and their war memories.

IAP Justice and Populations finalized with a rich selection of publications

On 20 December 2017, CegeSoma organized the last event in the context of the IAP 'Justice and Populations': an international workshop on the research of IAP-collaborator Dr. Jan Julia Zurna with regard to the 'liberation murders' in the court district of Brussels.

Doctor Honoris causa day : Ever- ' Engaging Values, Education and Responsabilities : refugees and migration – the role of higher education'

The VUB organizes a Doctor Honoris causa day : Ever- ' Engaging Values, Education and Responsabilities : refugees and migration – the role of higher education' in: Flagey, Studio 4, 1050 Brussels on 29 November 2017. The events will take place around the VUB's Doctor Honoris Causa, which will be awarded to two prominent individuals who have played a major role in the refugee situation in Europe: Dr Emma Bonino and the people of the Island of Lampedusa (represented by Dr Pietro Bartolo). Registration deadline: 21 November 2017. Gerlinda Swillen, Ph D in history at the VUB (2016) and associated researcher at the CegeSoma will speak of the necessity of an international statute for children born of war, begot by 'enemies' during actual and future conflicts.

EXHIBITION – 13 October: opening of the exhibition ‘Brussels, a safe haven?’

 This is a very contemporary exhibition as not a day goes by when the European politics of migration are not a topic in the media and elsewhere. This exhibition takes place in the centre of Brussels, a city home to 184 nationalities, and is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the present challenges we face in our society. The exhibition traces the immigrations routes from 1830 onwards via facts and personal witness accounts. It also presents 16 contemporary witness accounts.

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Launching website Belgium WWII

Belgium WWII : Discover the new virtual platform on Belgium and its inhabitants during the Second World War ! On 27 September, in the presence of the press and a particularly large audience, Belgium WWII was launched.

Was Grandfather a Nazi? The first reactions after the launch

On 13 September 2017, the book “Was Grandfather a Nazi?― was presented in the conference room of CegeSoma, in the presence of a large audience of press and public. The conference room proved too small for the large audience who wished to be present.

'Papy était-il un Nazi?' - Available at CegeSoma

This very important work, with the significant input from researchers from the National Archives and CegeSoma, is in the first place a research guide. The aim is to guide persons looking for concrete information on family members (parents, grandparents) who were victims of the repression after the Second World War, to archives where they can find this information.

CALL FOR PAPERS : "Thinking Sex after the Great War" - International conference, Brussels, 17-19 October 2018

On the joint initiative of Henk de Smaele (University of Antwerp) and the AVG-Carhif, an international conference entitled « Thinking Sex after the Great War » will be held end 2018 in Brussels. This conference aspires to evaluate the impact of the First World War on the representations and discourses on gender and sexuality. The main objective is to consider the way intellectuals, philosophers, sociologists, doctors, psychologists or academics have experienced the war, and the way this experience has influenced their own ideas on the relations between the sexes. Via these trajectories of intellectuals, an evaluation will be made as to how dominant or minority discourses were able to be strengthened, changed or emerged as a result of the war. Deadline to send in a resume (400 words): 15 December 2017 Download the PDF for the call for papers here. Â

RESEARCH - A festive presentation of ten years of research on justice

On Friday the 22nd of September, the Interuniversity Attraction Pool (IAP) Justice & Populations will present the final results of ten years of research on the history of the Belgian judiciary and justice system in the Palace of Academies in Brussels (by invitation only). The CegeSoma is an active member of this IAP and has facilitated several projects, including Jan Julia Zurné's doctoral and postdoctoral research and the justice-themed branch of the virtual platform BELGIUM WWII, which will be online as from September the 28th.

EXHIBITION – Exile in Belgium, of Past and Present

On the occasion of World Refugee Day on 20 June, Katharina Austilat, a German ASF volunteer at CegeSoma has presented the result of her research on the experiences of refugees of past and present with 11 other volunteers. The young volunteers have presented these trajectories in an exhibition organized by the Jewish Museum of Belgium. Visitors were introduced to the intimate circumstances of the refugees and were able to discover the experience of their flight via a short film.

NEW PUBLICATION on Human Rights between 1914 and 1940

In May 2017, Laurence Petrone published her book (in Dutch) 'Democratie in Crisis. Een anatomie van de buitengerechtelijke vrijheidsberoving in West-Europa (1914-1940)'.The book compares Belgium, and the Netherlands and analyses how states can drift towards non-democratic, repressive measures under pressure of crisis and war.

Violence In 20th-Century European History - European Conference ACCESSIBLE ONLINE

Between 6 and 8 June 2017, the European Remembrance and Solidarity Network organized its eight conference in the Brussels Palace of the Academies. This conference, with CegeSoma as co-organizer, had 'Violence' as an umbrella theme. Almost the entire conference is now accessible online.

JOURNAL OF BELGIAN HISTORY – The first 2017 issue is now available

 The contributions in the first 2017 issue of the Journal of Belgian History – of which two in French, and two in Dutch – again bear testimony to the thematic variety of present-day research on Belgian history. Â

NEW MANAGEMENT for CegeSoma

On 1 May, Nico Wouters was appointed as the new head of CegeSoma (the fourth operational division of the Belgian State Archives). His appointment marks the end of a long transition period in which CegeSoma was headed by interim directors. From now onwards, the institution will be able to fully develop its mission as a centre of expertise in public history, research, and valorization regarding the history of the two world wars and other twentieth-century conflicts.

NEW RESEARCH PROJECT – The transition from war to peace in Brussels, 1918

In the coming months, CegeSoma will investigate one of the most turbulent periods in Belgian history: the transition from war to peace at the end of the First World War. For the purpose of an exhibition for the BELvue Museum (2018), we will focus on the last months of the German occupation in Brussels, as well as on the troubled societal context of the months surrounding the liberation. Furthermore, we want to retrace how the Belgian polity underwent crucial democratic reforms during this period. The daily life of the inhabitants of the Belgian capital - which was characterized by a peculiar combination of joy and grief - will be a prominent theme in the upcoming exhibition.

TRANSMEMO: New Research on the Memory of Collaboration and Resistance during the Second World War

In September 2017, the new research project TRANSMEMO has been launched, a partnership between the CegeSoma (Nico Wouters), Ghent University (Bruno De Wever & Koen Aerts) and the UCL (Olivier Luminet & Valérie Rosoux). Three young researchers, Florence Rasmont (CegeSoma), Aline Cordonnier (UCL) and Pierre Bouchat (UCL) are in charge of the project.

ARCHIVES – UGESCO project : High-quality Spatial-temporal Metadata for the Digitised Collections

On 1 April, CegeSoma, in coordination with a multidisciplinary team (Ghent University, Université Libre de Bruxelles, and KU Leuven), launched the UGESCO project (Upscaling the Geo-temporal Enrichment, Exploration and Exploitation of Scientific Collections). UGESCO is dedicated to improving the quality of geo-temporal metadata of digitized audiovisual collections.

ARCHIVES - Join our Team of Volunteers!

Are you retired and passionated by the history of Belgium? Or are you a student or recently graduate looking for useful experience to strengthen your cv? Do you have a heart for volunteering? The CegeSoma is looking for new volunteers to complement the existing team and offers you the opportunity to explore archives that are often closed to the public and to strengthen your archival competencies. Please contact: [email protected] or 02/556 92 11.

DIGITAL CATALOGUES - 3 tips to find more sources and references

The consultation of the digital catalogues of institutions such as the Royal Library, the State Archives and CegeSoma* is one of the first steps researchers take to reach an understanding of our history. Therefore, we give you three tips to find more references and digital sources in the catalogues of these institutions.

IAP Project ‘Murders during the Liberation and the Belgian Judiciary: the Case of Brussels’ Multiform violence against collaborators

Everywhere in Europe, governments and citizens dealt with collaborators after the liberation in 1944-1945. This was done through legal institutional means by courts, but also in a more spontaneous and violent ways by members of resistance groups and citizens. In Belgium as well, real and alleged collaborators were taken prisoner, molested and in some cases murdered. There was also more symbolic violence: household goods were destroyed and homes were plastered with slogans. This street violence was a reaction against the many years of occupation, but it is today, and in some cases also at the time, considered unjust (and illegal).

NEW - Few changes made on our website to help you access our catalogues in an easier way

Dear users, the MADDLAIN research project is still being finalised but the CegeSoma is already applying a few of its outcomes to better meet your digital needs. A few changes were made to help you access our catalogues in an easier way.

The Cahiers d’histoire du temps présent and numerous other publications of CegeSoma at give-away prices

For a modest sum, it is still possible to acquire the majority of the CHTP-BEG as well as several studies and work instruments on Belgian 20th century history.

A Number of Periodicals Temporarily Unavailable

A number of periodicals published between 1940 and 1944 is momentarily being digitised by an outside firm and therefore momentarily unaccessible. If you wish to consult a periodical published between 1940 and 1944, it is advisable to contact Kathleen Vandenberghe beforehand to make sure it is available. Â

Les "Journaux de Guerre"

This weekly periodical is unique in that it relates the history of the two World Wars and the interwar period through the press of these periods.